Gemini Capsule

Display location: Museum exhibit hall

The Gemini Capsule in the
Schriever Room goes by two names because it was flown on two
different missions, the only capsule to hold such a distinction.

First, on 19 January 1965, the
capsule was flown by NASA from Launch Complex 19 as GT-2
(Gemini-Titan 2) atop a Titan II booster as one of the initial test
flights in the Gemini series. It was unmanned, but filled with
weight and test equipment to simulate occupancy by two astronauts.

The second flight occurred on 3
November 1966, when the capsule was flown by the US Air Force as
MOL-B from Launch Complex 40 atop a Titan IIIC as a test flight for
the Air Force's Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) program. This
second flight was also unmanned and highly instrumented, but one of
the main objectives was to test an unusual feature necessary with
the new heat
shield. To allow the military astronauts, once in orbit, to transit
from the capsule to the laboratory attached to the back of the
capsule, engineers were to install a round hatch that required
cutting a hole in the heat shield. There were concerns that hot
gases could penetrate the space surrounding the hatch and destroy
the capsule during re-entry. This test confirmed the configuration
would not result in a destructive burn-through of the heat shield.

Another unique fact associated
with this capsule is its military markings remaining from its second
flight. Portions of "U.S. AIR FORCE" and the military star insignia
that survived the heat of re-entry are still visible (above) on the
outside of the capsule.

The Manned Orbiting Laboratory was
to be a military reconnaissance platform (space station) manned by
military astronauts. The program was announced in 1963 and cancelled
in 1969. Learn the history of the MOL
program in the Public Broadcasting System documentary "Astrospies".
The link will take you to the PBS web site where you can watch the
film online.